by Benny Benton
GAFFNEY, S.C. – The Barton College men's tennis team suffered its first Conference Carolinas loss of the season on Saturday after falling 8-1 to host Limestone College.
The loss ended a three-match winning streak for the Bulldogs, now 5-3 overall and 2-1 in league play. The Saints improved to 6-3 overall and 5-1 in conference.
Limestone captured all three doubles matches to grab the early lead, although Barton's No. 1 duo of Jake McCartney and Rafael Ruiz Velasco pushed Gustavo D'Ascenzi and Stefano Soares into extra play before falling 9-7. McCartney also battled D'Ascenzi through a three-set marathon at No. 1 singles before losing 7-5, 4-6, 10-7.
Barton's one victory came at No. 6 singles, where Yaxi Pintado posted a 7-5, 6-0 win over Giacomo Campus. The sophomore from Madrid, Spain, raised his singles record to 5-2 on the year with his third straight win.
The Bulldogs will step out of conference to take on Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C., next Saturday before hosting Pfeiffer University in their next league match on March 31.
LIMESTONE 8, BARTON 1
Singles
1. Gustavo D'Ascenzi (LC) def. Jake McCartney (BARTON) 7-5, 4-6, 10-7
2. Lucas Guinski (LC) def. Rafael Ruiz Velasco (BARTON) 6-1, 6-3
3. Stefano Soares (LC) def. Max Leppert (BARTON) 6-1, 6-3
4. Benji Lascari Diaz (LC) def. Nick Genest (BARTON) 6-4, 6-3
5. Tom Wagemans (LC) def. Daniel Radu (BARTON) 6-1, 6-2
6. Yaxi Pintado (BARTON) def. Giacomo Campus (LC) 7-5, 6-0
Doubles
1. Gustavo D'Ascenzi/Stefano Soares (LC) def. Jake McCartney/Rafael Ruiz Velasco (BARTON) 9-7
2. Benji Lascari Diaz/Tom Wagemans (LC) def. Max Leppert/Daniel Radu (BARTON) 8-5
3. Lucas Guinski/George Green (LC) def. Nick Genest/Yaxi Pintado (BARTON) 8-4
Records
Barton 5-3, 2-1
Limestone 6-3, 5-1
